Quick & Easy Starbucks Classic Syrup Recipe

Starbucks Classic Syrup Recipe for Coffee and Tea

Learning how to make your own tea or coffee syrup, like Starbucks Classic syrup, is a game changer.

The first time I made a simple syrup recipe I honestly couldn’t believe how quick and cheap it was to put together.

Not to mention, making your own tea/coffee syrup is far cheaper than buying a bottle of it. And I think it tastes just as good, if not better.

In fact, I usually have a bottle of homemade classic syrup and homemade vanilla syrup in my refrigerator.

The vanilla syrup is perfect in a hot London Fog tea latte, as well as in my new favorite summer drink, Iced London Fog Latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream.

If you only want to sweeten your drink without adding any other flavor, then classic syrup is the ideal. Plus, since the sugar is already dissolved the syrup is easy to incorporate throughout the entire drink.

In other words, no more clumps of undissolved sugar in the last sip.

I like to add a squirt or two of classic into a cup of cold brew tea. It makes the best iced tea ever.

Difference Between Starbucks Classic Syrup and Liquid Cane Sugar

If you’re a Starbucks regular customer then you know Starbucks has lots of different syrups to make all sorts of drinks. With flavors like vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, toffee-nut, raspberry and more, there’s something for everyone.

What you may not realize, however, is that there is a somewhat newer kid on the block, Liquid Cane Sugar syrup.

So you might be wondering, what’s the difference between Starbucks Classic syrup and Liquid Cane Sugar.

It’s true that classic syrup and liquid cane sugar are both simply sweeteners; meaning they don’t flavor your drink in any other way.

However, there’s one big difference between the two syrups. Classic is made with sugar and Liquid Cane Sugar is a combination of turbinado cane sugar and sugar.

Now, if you’re wondering what turbinado sugar is, it’s basically sugar that is not as processed as regular cane sugar and therefore, has more of a molasses flavor.

Notice the color difference between the two syrups in the picture below.

Interestingly, Liquid Cane Sugar is what’s used in all Starbucks iced tea drinks, whereas Classic is for iced coffee and even some frappuccinos.

How to Make Starbucks Classic Syrup

This copycat Starbucks Classic syrup recipe is made with just two ingredients and only takes a few minutes.

However, if you prefer to buy an actual bottle, ask your Starbucks barista if they have any available. If they have enough in stock, they may actually be able to sell you one.

Otherwise, Starbucks syrups like Classic and Liquid Cane Sugar are available on Amazon. Don’t forget to buy an actual pump for the bottle, too.

Classic syrup is the same thing as plain simple syrup.

Basically, all you have to do is dissolve sugar in water. This can be done with cold water, but I prefer the heat method.

Here’s how I make it:

Step 1: Add sugar and water to saucepan

Most simple syrup recipes are made using equal parts of cane sugar and water. That’s it.

But Starbucks Classic syrup is a little sweeter than typical simple syrup, so this copycat recipe uses more sugar than water.

Actually, for those of you that like to geek out on math like me, this recipe is a 1 1/2 to 1 ratio of sugar to water.

Additionally, if you have filtered water, use it for a cleaner tasting syrup.

Step 2: Dissolve sugar on stove

Put the sugar/water mixture on the stove on medium heat.

The goal is to dissolve the sugar, not boil the mixture. So stir consistently so the granules of sugar don’t stick to the pan and get burned.

And just stir until all of the sugar is dissolved (about 2-3 minutes).

If you would like the syrup to be a little thicker, you can let it boil a little bit to burn off some of the water, but just make sure to keep stirring it.

Step 3: Cool syrup and refrigerate

Finally, remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool down.

I like to pour it in a glass jar or bottle. Sometimes I keep it in a plastic squeeze bottle so it’s easy to squirt into my tea.

Be sure and store your homemade Classic syrup in the refrigerator.

Sugar is a preservative so it will keep for a few weeks. But since it’s so easy to make, I normally make enough for two weeks or so.

How Much Classic Syrup Starbucks Uses in Drinks

I know a lot of us like to try and replicate the taste of Starbucks drinks in our own kitchens. Actually, here’s a dozen of my favorite Starbucks tea drinks to make at home.

To help you in your quest to be an at-home barista, here’s a quick guide to how many pumps of syrup Starbucks adds to hot and cold drinks.

Number of Pumps of Syrup Starbucks Uses per Drink Size

Starbucks Cup Size	Pumps for Hot Drink	Pumps for Cold Drink
Short	2	N/A
Tall	3	3
Grande	4	4
Venti	5	6
Trenta	N/A	7

Calories in Classic Syrup

Each pump of Starbucks Classic syrup is 20 calories.

To see for yourself, just take a look at the Starbucks nutrition information for iced coffee.

All the calories in an iced coffee come from the syrup and a tall-sized iced coffee with 3 pumps of syrup contains 60 calories.

A grande made with 4 pumps of classic has 80 calories, a venti (6 pumps) has 120 calories and a trenta (7 pumps) contains 140 calories.

Therefore, if you do the math, each pump of classic syrup is 20 calories.

Since each pump equals approximately 1/2 tablespoon, 1 tablespoon of Starbucks Classic Syrup is about 40 calories.

For comparison, the at-home recipe below is about 39 calories per tablespoon.

Starbucks Classic Syrup Recipe